Two of the Greatest Blessings: My Sisters and a Perfect Peach Pie

Two of the greatest blessings in my life are these women: my sisters. After surviving the chaotic years of growing up — the fights, the hair-dryer battles, the ordinary sibling squabbles — they have become two of my closest friends. Over time the age gaps and petty rivalries dissolved, and what remains is deep, steady love. I take comfort in knowing that if I ever needed help, they would be the first to stand by my side.

There is one problem: they live more than a thousand miles away. Phone calls and video chats help, but distance makes a difference. Early on I realized I needed friends nearby who could become the kind of sisters-at-heart I already had far away. Those relationships don’t appear by chance, so I began praying intentionally about it.

Each year I asked God to teach me how to be a better friend and to bring a few people into my life who would know me deeply and still love me. Over and over, I’ve watched that prayer answered. Friends have arrived in seasons when I needed encouragement, practical help, or simply laughter to lighten my load.

A Friend Named Kim

Kim is one of those friends. We met years ago; our children are about the same age, and she would bring them over for sleepovers at my island house. At a time when I felt perpetually exhausted, her laughter was exactly the medicine I needed. We haven’t stopped laughing since.

This coming summer Kim and her family are planning a mission trip to Columbia. They’ll join other individuals and families to support a specific community in need. Their passion for the trip has been contagious, and I’ve found myself wondering if I should pack a suitcase and go along.

To raise funds for the mission, Kim and her family have been organizing several efforts. A few weeks ago she and her mother began selling homemade baked goods — bake-and-serve items that are easy to prepare at home. I wanted to support their project, so I ordered two peach pies.

The pies arrived beautifully packaged with neat labels and baking instructions. With a bare pantry and no energy to plan a full meal that evening, I popped one pie into the oven for dinner. It felt a little unconventional to serve pie as the main course, but we were tired and that pie felt exactly right.

Perfecto Peach Pie — Renamed

The first bite changed my evening — and honestly, it felt a bit like my life had shifted toward a sweeter direction. The family had labeled it “Perfecto Peach Pie,” but I gave it my own name in my head: the best peach pie I’ve tasted in a very long time.

I called Kim to ask for the recipe and to see if she would share it. She laughed and explained the whole process. I could picture the kitchen: Kim and her mother working together, laughing, improvising, and relying on years of experience rather than a printed recipe. Her mother is a trained culinary artist who instinctively knows how to handle dough and ingredients — the sort of cook who understands texture and timing rather than following measurements to the letter.

Because of that, Kim admitted there isn’t a formal, written recipe. Instead, the pie comes from a mix of good techniques, quality ingredients, and a generous helping of love and laughter.

How to Make Your Own Version

If you want to recreate something like it at home, here’s a practical approach based on what Kim described:

• Start with your favorite, most reliable pie crust recipe — the one that produces a flaky, well-browned base. A great crust makes everything taste better.
• Use fresh peaches for the filling. Quality fruit is the core of a memorable peach pie. Kim mentioned they used tapioca in the filling to help thicken it and give it a clean set when sliced.
• Top the pie with a peach-crisp-style topping if you like added texture and crunch. A crisp layer of butter, oats, and brown sugar contrasts beautifully with tender fruit beneath.
• Above all, prepare and serve it with love — and don’t forget to sprinkle a generous measure of laughter into the process. Those are, in my opinion, the two secret ingredients that make a pie truly unforgettable.

For friends nearby: Kim has begun sharing news about her baked goods on a local Facebook page dedicated to the project, announcing when fresh batches are available for purchase. If you see peach pies offered, be warned — I’ll be first in line and I’ll want at least ten!

Good friends, shared laughter, and a slice of warm peach pie can turn an ordinary evening into a treasured memory. That combination has brought warmth and sweetness to my life more than once — and for that I am deeply grateful.